We have seen quite a few CBM’s come down the line these last few years. Some were great, some not so much. Since 1978 and the debut of Superman, I have been waiting for more comic book movies every year. I like making fancast and such and I also like to see others take on their favorite heroes and villains or even supporting cast. We make it seem easy but in reality our fan favorites aren’t necessarily the right choice. The casting of a movie is a lot harder than we can imagine.
A casting call will go out for a movie or play and that is where thousands of potentials will start the audition process. The producer, director or choreographer form a casting panel and has the final word in the cast but the Casting Director or Casting Associate has the main influence. They are the trusted ones who send these actors through a series of auditions and remain a liaison between the director, agents, studio execs and the actors. And I found it rather amazing that this field of endeavor is dominated by women. They do good work.
I have seen a few bad cast from the Hollywood big wigs and we will take a look at some of those later but I want to take a look at some of the best casting jobs I found in my beloved CBM’s.
I, like many of you, watch CBM’s over and over, even the bad ones. These are the actors I feel had the best chemistry with the rest of the cast and the talent to make the characters enjoyable, believable and very memorable.
Honorable Mentions
15. Stan Lee as Willie Lumpkin-Fantastic Four (2005)
14. Alfred Molina as Dr. Octopus/Otto Octavius-Spiderman II (2004)
13. John Malkovich-Marvin Boggs-Red (2010)
12. James Marsden as Cyclops-X-Men (2000), X-Men I (2003), X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
11. Mark Strong as Sinestro-Green Lantern (2011)
Top Ten
10. Jack Nicholson as The Joker/Jack Napier-Batman (1989)
The Joker is a lunatic in the comics and Nicholson caught that. He did it first and that’s why he gets a spot on my list. He was great as a mean but campy Joker. During this time in the comics every character was pretty campy. When he said "Wait til they get a load of me" in the movie I almost did the bat dance in the theater.
9. Wesley Snipes as Blade/Eric Brooks-Blade(1998), Blade II (2002), Blade Trinity (2004)
He narrowly missed my list before, but I have to admit he deserves this spot. He was the perfect Blade. And he is still in great shape, maybe we can get him for a fourth film, if he has
time.
8.Ron Perlman as Hellboy/Anung un Rama-Hellboy (2004), Hellboy II (2008)
Perlman has a history of playing these types of characters but he made this one his own. When I read a Hellboy comic I hear Perlman’s voice. There were bigger names out there that could have brought something to this character, but I can’t see anyone doing it this well. This made him popular enough that he started getting roles where he could show that ugly mug.
7. Jeff Bridges as Obidiah Stane/Iron Monger-Iron Man (2008)
I found Bridges very intimidating as Stane. If I wasn’t already aware he was the villain in the first Iron Man movie I would have been shocked to see him turn on Tony Stark/Robert Downey Jr. He seemed sincere and trusting through most of the movie. Best line from the movie "Tony Stark was able to build this in a cave... with a box of scraps!!". I still say that when I'm mad at my wife.
6. Patrick Stewart as Charles Xavier/Professor X-X-Men (2000), X-Men I (2003), X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
I seen this one coming and I was so happy to see how well Jean Luc-Picard played Prof. X. I knew he was born for the role but I never expected him to be so perfect. I thought he had the elocution and mentality as his comic counterpart. James MacAvoy was a great young Xavier but he was no where as great as the original.
5. Jackie Earle Haley as Walter Kovacs/Rorschach-The Watchmen (2009)
I was surprised to see little Kelly Leak from the Bad News Bears taking on this very important role. I was even more surprised to see how well he nailed it. His performance was, in my humble opinion, Oscar worthy. Haley played the Rorschach character exactly the way he was written in the comics by Alan Moore.
4. J.K. Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson-Spiderman (2002), Spiderman II (2004), Spiderman III (2007)
This is my favorite cast for this character. J. K. Simmons was the very best J.J.J. they could have picked. I can’t see anyone else doing this role. Grumpy and mean but loyal. He didn’t tell the Green Goblin anything about Parker, remember that? Very well written and very well executed.
3. Heath Ledger as The Joker-The Dark Knight (2008)
This is a no brainer. A lot of people think that Nolan’s version of Batman is overrated, but no one can deny that Ledger’s performance was very realistic and frightening. I think it was perfect. Ledger put the Joker right back there as DC’s very worst (meaning best) villain.
2. Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark-Iron Man (2008), Iron Man II (2010), Avengers (2012)
I thought he was too old. I know I preach that age doesn’t matter in Hollywood, but I thought he was just wrong for the part. I’m glad I was wrong. I hope he can continue playing Tony Stark forever but he can’t and ever who follows him will have to prove they deserve this role. His fast talking and egotistical swagger was perfect for Tony Stark.
1. Christopher Reeve as Clark Kent/Superman-Superman (1978), Superman II (1980), Superman III (1983), Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987)
As campy as this movie was, it is still my favorite CBM and always will be. Clark Kent was a stumbling goofball in the comics. Reeve's played Kent and Superman exactly how they were portrayed in the comics at that time, I remember because I was there. I'm old.
THE WORST
6. Jessica Alba as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman Fantastic Four (2005), Fantastic four II (2007)
I think Jessica Alba is sexy and beautiful and she was great in Sin City, but she IS NOT Sue Storm. I only get through her miscast because the thought of her naked makes me happy.
5. Richard Pryor as Gus Gorman-Superman III (1983)
I don’t know if he was high during the filming of this movie or what but he was terrible. I was embarrassed for him while watching the movie. They tried to make a comedy out of Superman and it failed miserably.
4. Doug Hutchinson as Looney Bin Jim-Punisher: War Zone (2008)
I hated Hutchinson trying to act like a tough psycho. He was fat, short and didn’t scare me at all. If I ran into this character in reality I wouldn't be afraid....I'd get killed, but I wouldn't be afraid. He was the reason I only watched Punisher War Zone once.
3. Halle Berry as Catwoman/Patience Phillips-(Catwoman (2004)
Berry was sexy as Catwoman, can’t deny it. Her acting was horrendous. She seemed out of place during the whole movie. I just turn the volume off and watch her walk.
2. George Clooney as Bruce Wayne/Batman-Batman and Robin (1997)
I found Clooney to be a bad Bruce Wayne but a terrible Batman. We all know how bad this one turned out so I won’t dwell on it.
1.Jim Carrey as Edward Nigma/The Riddler-Batman Forever (1995)
Jim Carrey takes the number one spot with his overacting and stupid one liners. I absolutely hated his take on the Riddler. Carrey was great in The Mask because all that energy was pertinent to the character. He was the worst thing to ever happen to a Batman movie. It was just too much for me.
There you have it. This is my favorites, I'm sure you guys have different ones but we can't all be right...Thanks.